Chicago's top lawyer to meet with attorneys of ex-convict on Burge torture allegations

September 13, 2011|By Annie Sweeney | Tribune reporter

The city’s top lawyer has agreed to meet with attorneys for a former convict who alleges in a federal lawsuit that he was beaten into confessing to five murders by detectives under the command of disgraced former Chicago police Cmdr. Jon Burge.

The meeting between the city’s new Corporation Counsel Stephen Patton and attorneys for Ronald Kitchen -- disclosed at a federal court hearing Tuesday -- signals a new approach by Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration to address the legal and financial headache posed by remaining litigation against Burge.

Emanuel has said recently he wants to explore the options of settling those where an agreement is in the best interest of the city, a spokeswoman for the city said Tuesday.

Burge’s misconduct has already cost city taxpayers more than $30 million in court judgments and settlements.